Magic fans give Dwight Howard the business Tuesday night. Howard responds with a huge game in a Lakers' win. (AP Photo)

Howard showed them by missing 14 free throws. But he also made—do not adjust your sets—25 of them in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106-97 win over the Orlando Magic.

He finished with 39 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks. It was the Total Dwight Package, the kind he used to deliver almost nightly for Orlando.

Wasn’t his return home supposed to be more traumatic?

“I just wanted to come out and have a good game,” he said. “I was able to get my mind right and do just that.”

Considering how Howard’s mind works, that couldn't have been easy. He loves to be loved, and there wasn’t much of that for him inside Amway Center.

The reception also wasn’t nearly as catastrophic as it could have been. Howard’s father advised him to wear earplugs, but the boos were nothing compared to what LeBron James heard on his first trip back to Cleveland.

Maybe Howard’s recent apology tour helped mute the sight of him in a purple uniform. A better explanation, though, is that he finally seems ready to start delivering the total package for LA: Smiles, points, rebounds.

And, of course, free-throw drama.

Just like old times, he missed seven of his first nine at Amway Center. At least none was an air ball like the one he had while going 0-for-5 the previous game.

All that prompted Magic coach Jacque Vaughn to break out the old Hack-a-Dwight strategy. It seemed like a good idea, until Howard was inhabited by the spirit of Rick Barry.

He made 16 of 20 free throws in the second half. His 39 attempts tied an NBA record he set last season, when Golden State hacked Howard half to death.

The 25 made free throws were three short of the record. Wilt Chamberlain had 28 in his 100-point game in 1962.

So there it is, sports fans: Just when you think the Lakers’ season couldn’t get any weirder, Dwight Howard almost sets an NBA record for made free throws.

“That was our best offense for a while,” LA coach Mike D’Antoni said.

He could laugh about it on a March night in Orlando. It might not be so funny in San Antonio or Oklahoma City in May. As scary as that vision is, the Lakers are thrilled that foul shooting is now their biggest worry with their center.

It’s no longer Howard’s back or legs or shoulder or relationship with Kobe or escape plan to Brooklyn. Those are still out there, but they’re not the distraction.

You could even say LA seems to be developing a little team chemistry. Role players are coming through. Defense is no longer a foreign concept.

Kobe isn’t scowling nearly as much now that Howard is concentrating on rebounding and defense. Their budding relationship extended to the pregame advice.

“Just go out there and bust their (rear ends),” Bryant said. “Show them what they’re missing. Save that emotional (stuff) for when you retire.”

Easy for him to say. Kobe doesn’t care what anybody thinks. Besides, the only other team (besides the Olympics) he has played for the past 20 years is Lower Merion (Pa.) High School. He doesn’t know what it's like to jilt an entire city of worshipers.

He couldn't like the fact the Magic have given his No. 12 to Tobias Harris. That’s what happens when your roster has mustered only 18 wins.

The Lakers are up to 34-31 now, but you probably knew that. Lakers fascination is so intense the Catholic bishops reportedly had ESPN installed in the Apostolic Palace. They want to keep up with the playoff race while they decide on the new pope.

The Lakers have been feasting on inferior teams lately. But Howard and Steve Nash aren’t nearly as gimpy. All the trade-deadline craziness has passed. Jerry Buss has been laid to rest after his long illness.

It’s been a season of getting past adversity. Tuesday night was just another part of that process.

“Thank God it is over,” Howard said. “I think this is something that I needed, to come back here. And I think the city needed it. It was closure.”

He can’t help feeling the worst is over. At least until he gets to the free-throw line.